Accreditation is a cooperative system of certification and quality assurance wherein communities of academics establish criteria (or standards) which define accepted practice and then hold one another accountable to the criteria. Institutions are accredited as a whole by institutional accrediting agencies. Some individual academic programs are also accredited through programmatic accrediting agencies. Accrediting agencies are not governmental entities, but rather voluntary, cooperative associations of schools and scholars. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation's website offers a more in-depth introduction to accreditation.
Accreditation provides the prestige of national recognition and the assurance of quality for students, parents and other members of the community. The institution benefits as well from the self-reflection, self-improvement, and peer counsel that are part of the accreditation process.
The federal government enters the accreditation picture not through direct oversight, but through financial aid. To ensure that federal financial aid is well spent, the U.S. Department of Education provides financial aid only to students of accredited institutions. The USDOE thus recognizes and validates the work of the accrediting agencies in the peer review process, but also exerts influence on accrediting agencies and accredited institutions through financial aid regulations.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited as a whole by the Higher Learning Commission, one of the oldest institutional accrediting agencies, founded in 1895. Many of our academic programs are accredited by appropriate programmatic accreditors, as noted below under Programmatic Accreditations.
In addition to accreditations, Indiana Wesleyan University is affiliated with a number of communities and associations that provide connections for cooperation and accountability.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
| Program | IWU Contact | Initial Accreditation | Last Visit | Last Reaffirmation | Next Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institution | Jim Vermilya | March 30, 1966 | November 11-12, 2019 | March 20, 2020 | 2029-2030 |
| Wesley Seminary - Association of Theological Schools | Yamil Acevedo | 2014 | 2021 | 2021 | 2031 |
| Music - National Association of Schools of Music | Davy Chinn | 1994 | 2020 | 2020 | 2030 |
| Field | Programs | Accrediting Agency | IWU Contact | Year of Initial Accreditation | Year of Last Review | Year of Next Review | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Addictions Counseling | MA in Clinical Addictions Counseling | NASAC (National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission) | Don Osborn | 2013 | 2021 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Athletic Training | BS in Athletic Training | CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) | Jessica Keller | 2003 | 2017 | 2027 | Accredited in good standing |
| Business |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Computer Information Technology | AS in Computer Information Technology | ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Counseling |
|
CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) | Rob Atchison | 1998 | 2013 | 2024 | Accredited in good standing |
| Educational Leadership |
|
CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) | Tony Hembrock | 2021 | 2021 | 2024 | Accredited in good standing |
| Exercise Science | BS in Exercise Science | CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) | Melissa Cook | 2013 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Health Care Management* |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Human Resources* |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Management |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Marketing |
|
ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) | Dedra Daehn | 2019 | 2018 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy | MA in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy, onsite and online | COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) | Nenetzin Stoeckle | 2015 | 2020 | 2028 | Accredited in good standing |
| Music Therapy | BA in Music Therapy | AMTA (American Music Therapy Association) | Rebecca Barnard | AMTA-Approved | |||
| Nursing |
|
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education | Rob Dawson | 2000 | 2019 | 2029 | Accredited, Good Standing |
| Nursing |
|
NLN (National League for Nursing) | Rob Dawson | 1976 | The BS in Nursing was accredited by NLN from 1976 to 2000. The MSN in nursing was accredited by NLN from 1982 to 2000. Beginning in 2000, accrediting of nursing programs was shifted to CCNE. | ||
| Occupational Therapy |
|
ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) |
|
2017 | 2017 | 2024-2025 |
|
| Physical Therapy | Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) | Phillip Palmer | April 29, 2025 | 2024 | Candidate for Accreditation | |
| Social Work, Baccalaureate |
|
CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) | Lauren Zwirn (Michelle Wells for online program) | 1982 | 2022 | 2030 | Accredited in good standing |
| Social Work, Masters | Master of Social Work (MSW) | CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) | David King | 2016 | 2022 | 2030 | Accredited in good standing |
| Teacher Education |
|
CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) | Anita Manwell | 2018 | 2018 | 2024 | Accredited in good standing |
| Teacher Education |
|
CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) | Tony Hembrock | 2018 | 2018 | 2024 | Accredited in good standing |
| Teacher Education | BS in Early Childhood Education | NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) | Tony Hembrock | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | Accredited in good standing |
| Association | Purpose | IWU Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Association of Governing Boards (ABG) | Guidance regarding board best practices | Dr. Jon Kulaga |
| Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) | Cooperation among evangelical Christian colleges | Dr. Jon Kulaga |
| The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) | Cooperation among private, not-for-profit colleges | Jim Vermilya |
| Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) | Cooperation among private, not-for-profit colleges in Indiana | Jim Vermilya |
